TRANSPLANTED IRISH INSTITUTIONS - University of Canterbury

known teetotal lecturer. "81 The high point in Auffray's tour was in Dunedin where after an
exchange of letters to the newspapers between Auffray and Fred Fulton, she challenged
99
Fulton to a public debate, with the proceeds going to the Home for Fallen Women.
In a
meeting the previous night she had offered to meet Bishop Moran but "it appeared that
Bishop Moran or his clergy had not the manliness to come and meet her face to face."8 2
This theme of 'manliness' continually resurfaced when Auffray defended herself against
their accusations.
The people who crowded into the Garrison Hall, In Dunedin on 2 March 1886,
filled the place an hour before the debate began. The meeting had to begin fifteen minutes
before the starting time because the crowd was impatient. 83 The meeting was reasonably
di sorderly with interjections and laughter from the audience during Fulton's one hour of
allotted time. Fulton made the accusation that Auffray was just extorting money from the
'lies' she told and that "some people regard her as possessing a giant intellect, whereas,
outside the theme of her show. she is commonplace and vulgar. "84
He added to the
entertainment of the meeting when he claimed that "This "Escaped Nun" business is all
'bosh'."85 Despite the intenuptions Fulton spoke for an hour and affirmed his accusations
as to the falsity of Auffray's claims about her 'escape' from a New Jersey Convent.
When it was Auffray's turn to speak she chose to question Fulton about his
allegations, by showing that he did not have the evidence to substantiate his claims. She
challenged the accusation that she had received a beating from her 'alleged' husband in
Minneapolis in 1872, of which Fulton had a signed affirmation that this took place and
claimed that he was at the hotel at the time. 86
After cross-examining Fulton, Auffray
showed that he did not have any knowledge of the geography of Minneapolis, suggesting
8101s the "escaped nun" a fraud?' Being a full report of the public discussion between Mr Fred Fulton and
Miss O'Gonnan (Mrs Auffray) at the Garrison Hall, Dunedin, 2 March 1886. Dunedin, J. Powers, Smith
& Co., 1886, p. 1.
82Ibid., p. 7.
83llifL p. 8.
84Ibid., p. 12.
85Ibid, p. 13 .
THE 1.I0 C"l ,\RY
UNIVEn SlrY OF C,vHERBURY
CI1 RISTc:·:unCH, N.l.